What follows is a subjective view on South Africas ability, in terms of capacity, to host the
2010 World Cup. Key factors such as South Africas capacity to finance investment and
infrastructure are evaluated in order to provide support to the fact that South Africa has the
capacity to host the 2010 World Cup. South Africas diverse culture and world rated tourist
destinations will ensure that the influx of tourists are well catered for. One may overlook
the importance of maintaining the capacity during the post World Cup era however, South
Africas commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure and commitment to
continued economic growth is reassurance that the government has been doing its
homework in terms of planning and providing for the future of South Africa.
Introduction
In determining whether South Africa has the capacity to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup,
one needs to look at the requirements that need to be met in order to successfully host the
FIFA World Cup. Having the right infrastructure is one of the key factors in being able to
have the capacity to host a big event such as the 2010 soccer world cup. South Africa
needs to be able to accommodate the spectators in terms of transport, hospitality,
information technology, communications technology, and as spectators at the games.
Stadiums need to be refurbished, transportation systems need to be upgraded and there
needs to be sufficient lodging. The building of infrastructure will require the skills and
man hours of a sizable workforce, creating many job opportunities. Many other industries,
such as travel and tourism, will need to be enhanced in order to create a lasting impression
on tourists. All of these upgrades in infrastructure are only possible through investment. A
country that wants to attract investment needs to be in a stable and favorable position in
order to gain the confidence of investors, thus it is important to scrutinize the economic
position of South Africa to determine whether or not the country has the capacity to host
the 2010 World Cup.
South Africas Track Record
South Africa definitely has the ability to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. If one looks at
past big events which South Africa has hosted in, it can be noted that the country has
successfully hosted many world class events. Events such as the 1995 Rugby World Cup,
1996 African cup of Nations, 2003 Cricket World Cup and 2003 Presidents Cup are just to
